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Monday, 14 April 2014

Screen Printing with Saffron Craig...

Last week my daughter and I were lucky enough to attend a Screen Printing Workshop with Australian fabric designer, Saffron Craig. I was wanting to explore the process of screen printing and I've long admired Saffron's beautiful fabrics, so the workshop sounded perfect.

And it was!!! Saffron started the day by showing us some of her fabrics and talking about the design process. Impatient as I was to start printing, it was fascinating hearing first hand how she approaches fabric design, seeing her favourite fabrics and hearing behind the scenes info.Oh, and to be able to ask questions.

Although at times we were flat out, it was a very relaxed atmosphere. Saffron is on the left in the photo above, mixing inks for me, with my daughter Tash, from Little Ladybird, on the right.

Thanks, Saffron, for taking pics with my camera!!! Otherwise I'd have very few photos in this blog post.

I'm so glad I followed Saffron's suggestions with the colours. I happily let her mix the inks to get the colours. We were even able to keep the left over mixed inks!!! I purchased a screen and sqeegee. I'm hooked and plan to do more experimenting with screen printing at home.

Tash was most excited, on her birthday, to find out that we would be attending the screen printing workshop. Happy Birthday, Gorgeous Girl!!! I know you had a fab day, too. Where shall we go next birthday?

There were only six of us in the group and we took over the bottom floor of Material Obsession at Drummoyne, in Sydney. Amazingly, I was surrounded by gorgeous fabric, and able leave at the end of the day without any new fabric. It was a different story when I first visited the store earlier in the year.

I'm thrilled with the design I was able to create... with help, of course. I originally wanted to print the mauve flowers, directly on top of the blue. Saffron encouraged me to offset them. I have to admit, I was skeptical as to how it would look. The end result speaks for itself. I love it!!!

Here's my finished fabric. I'm not sure what I'll do with it. I've heat set it and put it through the wash, but I really don't want to cut into it just yet. My original plan was to turn the fabric into a quilt and I may still do that. I've also been thinking of cushions, or maybe a bag. What do you think?

Fun activities always involve some sort of cleanup.

Checking for ink left on the screen.

Tash turned photos into drawings, which she then used to create silhouettes... very creative!!!

They look stunning, especially the ones on the polka dot fabric. Tash is not sure how she'll use her prints, either, but she has several ideas.

Saffron suggested Tash put two of her prints onto my flowers. I love the effect!!! Again, not sure what they'll become, but I'm thinking maybe a canvass or a cushion.

Have you ever sewn with Saffron Craig fabrics? Late last year I made two fabric baskets using Magical Lands. And I have two more of her beautiful fabrics in my stash, just waiting for the right project.

If you are interested in learning screen printing, I can thoroughly recommend a Screen Printing Workshop with Saffron Craig. (No, I'm not being sponsored.) Although based in Sydney, she does workshops in various locations around Australia.

Thanks Mr TMW for my Christmas present! Just wondering how you'll top Saffron's workshop this Christmas?

oh wow, how lucky were you! That must have been a brilliant experience. I LOVE the fabric you made. I think you should only use it in a quilt if it's going to be wholecloth, you shouldn't cut it up too much!

Looks like an amazing class and a fun mother-daughter day! Love your daughter's silhouettes and your flowers. Can't wait to see what you do with it! Unfortunately I have no new suggestions, but a whole cloth quilt would be cool.

Sounds like you two had a great time. Your daughter is beautiful! I visited her shop via your link and it is very nice. My girls and I do not get to go out, just us gals, very often but I always enjoy it very much when we do.

I love screen printing and have dabbled quite a bit into it, using the different techniques. I have done mostly tee shirts and tea towels. You are right, clean up is messy and if you happen to get a bit of paint on your hand and then touch your project, which I am prone to do, it can ruin a project! It is great fun, nonetheless!

So much about this post thrilled me - seeing you having so much fun and 'meeting' your daughter (I've popped over and checked out her website), loving your screenprinting and then discovering you were at Material Obsession. I'd love to visit the store - I met Kathy Doughty and Carolyn Davis last year when Kathy taught a class at The City Quilter, she's back again at the end of May teaching and doing a trunk show which I'm looking forward to. Looks like a fab day all round :D

Lucky you! I adore Saffron's fabrics and have used them a few times in a quilt and also a dress for my daughter. Love that you were able to produce something so pretty by the end of the class. Can't wait to see what you do with your newly designed fabric :)

That looks like a lot of fun! Your fabric turned out beautiful! We did screen printing when I took a visual arts class is high school but sadly, I don't remember much of the process. Looking forward to seeing your experiments with screen printing at home!

How fun! I've been wanting to try screen printing. Your flowers turned out awesome! Thank you for sharing this and your cute pillowcase and drawstring bag at the party. Happy Easter! Blessings ~Deborah